Romania: Violent protest leaves 440 needing medical treatment

The anti-government protest in Bucharest Friday drew tens of thousands Romanians from abroad and local residents who demanded the government resign over moves to change laws that critics say would make it harder to prosecute corruption.

Tens of thousands of Romanians flocked to an anti-government protest in Bucharest on Friday, urging the left-wing government to resign and call an early election. (Source: AP)

A total of 440 people, including two dozen riot police, received medical treatment after an anti-government protest turned violent, Romanian authorities said Saturday. The Bucharest-Ilfov Emergency Service said that of those 65 people, including nine riot police, were taken to the hospital.

There are no immediate reports of life-threatening injuries. Some people sustained head and other injuries, while others were overcome by tear gas, the service said.

The anti-government protest in Bucharest Friday drew tens of thousands Romanians from abroad and local residents who demanded the government resign over moves to change laws that critics say would make it harder to prosecute corruption.

It turned violent late Friday after riot police fired tear gas and water cannons to quell protesters. Some individuals lobbed rocks, bottles and smoke bombs at riot police.

There were accusations that soccer hooligans had infiltrated the largely peaceful protest and deliberately committed acts of violence.

President Klaus Iohannis, a critic of the left-wing government, condemned “the brutal intervention of riot police”.